Stress is not a badge of courage. – Kris Carr

Let’s take that in for a minute. Stress is NOT a badge of courage. I mean…I hardly have words.

I first heard this quote in an episode of Glimpse TV with Kate Northrup and Kris Carr. Before the words were even out of Kate’s mouth my eyes had filled with tears. This tiny quote rocked my world. I stopped the video right there and sat with those words.

I’d always viewed stress as an accomplishment. The more stressed I was the more I was. Stress was synonymous with success. Stress is what fueled me to stay up when I was exhausted. Stress allowed me to take on one more project when my plate was already full. Stress motivated. Stress kept me one step ahead. Stress pushed. Stress was my secret to success. Stress was who I was. Stress was courageous. Only the truly brave and dedicated could thrive under so much stress. (Go me!)

And that quote from Kris Carr called bullshit on all of those crazytown thoughts. It immediately shifted my perspective and was like I could see my life with more clarity. Since that moment I have been committed to lowering my stress – which is a moment to moment job for a stressaholic like me. I suddenly realized that I was not thriving but instead drowning under a sea of stress.

Stress is not an accomplishment. It is not a motivator. It is not your friend. And it certainly doesn’t equal success.

So, we are we in a bad relationship with stress and how can we break free? Stress is a learned response. Many of us grew up with examples of pushing, striving, manipulating, and existing in chaos. This is the goal. Working around the clock, chugging coffee just to function, and being pulled in all directions. When that becomes your life you have finally “made” it.

Moving with ease, balance and peace is viewed as settling, lack of ambition, or failure. Seriously…PEACE is a failure?!? Explain that one to me.

Breaking up with stress isn’t as easy as just deciding but is starts there. Stress is ingrained in our bodies and we need to be patient while we retrain our bodies and minds. It is about taking a series of little right actions. One tiny thought, action, reaction, or practice becomes two become three becomes a life of managing stress with ease. Here are my strategies for leaving stress in the dust:

1. Acknowledge that stress is a part of life

It’s not about stopping the world around us but about how quickly we can reach for our tools. Stress is going to happen. Probably daily. Someone is going to cut you off in traffic, your partner is going to push your buttons, work is going to overwhelm you, finances are going to be challenging. Stress is not the problem, our response is the problem. Stop trying to fight the stress and learn, instead and how manage it.

2. Breathe

Our breath is our number one tool when managing stress. I challenge you to check-in with your breathing the next time you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or frustrated. It’s likely that you are tensed up and holding your breath. This keeps us stuck in the stress. We can dissolve stress simply by breathing. Try this simple one minute breathe the next time you are feeling stress:

Close your eyesBreathe in (through your nose) for five secondsHold your breath for five secondsBreathe out (through your nose) for five secondsHold for five secondsRepeat this pattern for one minute

3. Cultivate peace

Dwell in peace as often as possible. The stronger your connection to peace and ease, the less time you’ll spend in stress-mode. Peace will become your permanent address. Fill your home, car and office with images and items that make you feel peaceful – crystals, flowers, photos, quotes, artwork, etc. Spend more time at peace – meditate, journal, go to yoga. Get in the habit of squashing stress with peace:

Peace begins with me

Press your thumb to your pointer finger and say PEACEPress your thumb to your middle finger and say BEGINSPress your thumb to your ring finger and say WITHPress your thumb to you pinkie and day MEBreathe deeply as you go and continue to recite PEACE BEGINS WITH ME for 1-3 minutes.

I choose to see peace instead of this

Pause mid-freakout and recite the mantra “I choose to see peace instead of this”. Only you have the power to break the stress cycle. You can choose to stress or you can choose peace.

4. Be grateful

Like attracts like. The more stressed you are, the more stressed you will be. The more gratitude you feel the more you will have to be grateful for. Start a daily gratitude practice. Every night before bed write out 5-10 things that you are grateful for and why. Post your gratitude lists on social media to inspire others to feel grateful.

Are you ready break up with stress and move through life with more ease? Request a free consultation and I’ll let stress know that you’re just not that into them.